A Separate Peace: Three Symbols
Beginning of paper
The three dichotomous symbols in A Separate Peace by John Knowles
reinforce the innocence and evil of the main characters, Finny and Gene. Beside
the Devon School flow two rivers on opposite sides of the school, the Naguamsett
and the Devon. The Devon provides entertainment and happiness for Gen ....
Middle of paper
.... the Naguamsett as "ugly,
saline, fringed with marsh, mud and seaweed" (68). When Gene starts a fight
with Quackenbush and falls into the Naguamsett because Quackenbush calls Gene "a
maimed son-of-a-bitch," Gene surfaces from the Naguamsett feeling grimy, dirty
and in desperate need of a bath (71). Much like the clean, refreshing water of
the Devon and the ugly saline water of the Naguamsett, Gene's carefree attitude
of the summer session vastly differs from the angry, confused attitude of th ....
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Word count: 703
Page count: 3 (approximately 250 words per page)
